1989 Sentra wont start

I tried starting my 1989 Nissan Sentra today but it wouldnt start. When I turn the key it just makes a clicking sound, that's all. I did some cleaning under the hood two days ago, could there still be water in the engine?

clicking could be a number of things, usually when my did that it was the battery was dead due to a bad alternator.....

same thing happen to me. Could be the starter (needs to be changed every 100,000km) or problems with electrical alimentation

Try to jump start it. If it still clicks, hit the selenoid with a piece of wood. If it has stuck, that will dislodge it. If that works, you will need to replace it. Really clean the battery posts also. One bad ground will cause untold higgldy piggldy.

I tried starting my 1989 Nissan Sentra today but it wouldnt start. When I turn the key it just makes a clicking sound, that's all. I did some cleaning under the hood two days ago, could there still be water in the engine?
Is it just one click or multiple? Jump start it and drive it at highway speed for 20 minuts to fully recharge the battery. I doubt its water, unless you completly soaked the hell out of your engine. If It doesnt start with a jump, try compression starting it, if it works then it's your starter. One thing you can also do is hook a cable to your +bat terminal to your starter solenoid bolt. BE CAREFULL. dont shock yourself, wear gloves, and make sure the cables have rubber grips, or you'll be toast. ANd try starting it then, check to see if your alternater belt if on, and also check the battery with a dc meter.

check fluid in battery and top up if necessary.

if you can't jump it, try charging the battery with a charger. if it won't charge, or start, have the battery tested. do you notice a lack of power as well? are the lights dim? if the battery is defective, or has a bad cell, all the driving in the world won't charge it. an alternator is not designed to recharge a dead battery. if it's bad, bring it in and trade it for a new one. how old is the one that's in there?

pull off the battery cables and clean the posts, as well as the ground connection and the connection at the starter solenoid. try again.

then tap the outside of the starter with a wrench or hammer. if there's a "dead" spot on the commutator, this usually reseats the brushes. try starting again.

if you still can't start it, put the transmission in neutral or park (DO NOT leave it in gear), set the parking brake, and take a screwdriver across the two thick terminals on the solenoid. it should throw sparks. if the starter now spins, the solenoid is defective. if you still click, it's either the starter or battery. start with the battery, have it professionally tested. some auto parts stores also bench-test the starter if you take it off and bring it in.

if there are still no results, connect a DC voltmeter across the battery terminals and try to start the engine again. voltage should drop, but it shouldn't drop any less than maybe 9 or 10 volts. if it does, you've probably got a bad starter.

I'm still going on the assumption that you're hearing a clicking sound. if you don't, the possibilities expand. for example, a neutral safety or clutch safety switch.

if your 89 sentra has a manual transmission (mine was a 4-speed) get an assistant to push you. sit in the drivers seat, turn the ignition switch to "ON" (you should hear the chime and see the warning lights), put the transmission in second gear, hold the clutch in, and have the assistant push you. when you get a decent speed going, slowly push in the gas while you let the clutch off. the car should now start running. with the car running, check the alternator with a voltmeter across the battery terminals. between 13.5 and 15 volts is a good alternator.

let me know what turns up.

Dan

I have been lovingly beating my 1989 Sentra's starter for about a month and a half now with a small finishing hammer to get it started. It's been really a matter of laziness in not reparing it.

Here was the first occurance. I'm at a gas station with my car I bought for $450 dollars about 2-3 weeks prior. All of a sudden it won't do anything. It's dead and I have my 3-year old in the car. Just great I say to myself. Open the hood, stare, wiggle the Neg battery cable to find it's got a crack in it, cheap! I wiggle it, nothing, not even that click everyone talks about. Hmm... I call a buddy of mine, he comes down, we try to jump it. Nothing. And the headlights work fine, everything except it won't start. So I get to thinking and I look over at this pile of rocks. Big ass river rocks... I pick one up, beat the starter with it a few times, and Voilla it starts. Been beating for months now. However, I can tell the starter is finally losing the battle. It has a really labored sound now with long pauses between cranks that sounds kind of like a cat caught in a slow dryer. LOL Why wait you ask, Kragen's wants $160 bucks with about a 40$ core charge. I figure, every smack with that hammer saves me about $100 in labor, and parts. Heh heh... I'm going to Pick N Pull today.

I'm up to about 30-40 beats with that hammer to get her going now.

Thanks for reading.